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Aikido neutralizes aggression and renders attackers harmless. By controlling body position and harmonizing their vital physical and mental powers, anyone -- regardless of size, strength or weight -- can fend off attacks using this sophisticated martial art. This classic text reveals the secrets which enable the stunning control practiced in Aikido.

The authors of this book studied aikido in the U.S. and Europe. Although they were only shodan when they wrote the book, the authors consulted with many of the top teachers in the states at that time, including Yoshimitsu Yamada sensei, head of New York Aikikai.

Written when Koichi Tohei sensei was chief instructor at Hombu Dojo in Japan, the book is clearly influenced by his philosophy and teaching methods, especially with regards to "ki"--that mystical, little-understood force in the center of the word aikido. The result is an impressively concise, extremely well illustrated piece of work. An excellent source for serious beginning and intermediate students if they are willing to pay the rather high price tag. But fear not--this book can also be found in many public and university libraries around the U.S., although your overdue charges may eventually equal the book's cost!

The detail and explanations clearly reflect the writers' scientific approach to their discussion about aikido. If there's something about aikido that the kyu-level student is not sure about, he or she can most likely find the answer in "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere."

This 375 page hardbound book is an amazing resource for anyone interested in aikido. For those who are merely curious, the book begins with an exploration of the foundation of the art, including its history, and a discussion on the ethics of self-defense. The further into the book you read, the more the technical aspects of the art are examined and explained. The topics gradually progress from the Posture and Motion of Defense, to Basic Techniques of Neutralization, to Advanced Practice. The book is wonderfully hand illustrated throughout, (which you will find is more descriptive than any similar series of photographs) and every technique is recited in language which is easy enough for a beginner to follow.

The only complaint I've heard about this book is that some feel that too much print is spent analyzing the basic practice as compared with advanced techniques. I did not feel that this was the case, as I think even an advanced practitioner could find a legion of things to learn from the book.

I've read various martial arts manuals on Aikido and I find this one a very good one for any Martial artisit to have in his or her, library. The authors concentrate not only on the techniques, but the essence of the art-Evasion, Centralization, Extension, Theory of Defense, and the spiritualization of ki and it's practical uses.

This book is sort of the Aikido equivalent of what "Dynamic Karate" is to Japanese Karate. Its a matter of anyone's opinion if it is a definitive volume of Aikido, but it certainly is one that offers a great insight and the best general description of what Aikido is about.

The only reason I don't give it a "5" is because I'm primarily a Karate practitioner and have only practiced Aikido by taking a few semesters at a local college, so I don't feel qualified to give it the highest rating.

Overall it's a good beginners book. Very useful information and well illustrated. There are a few techniques that are a little questionable (in terms of application) but overall, it's a good read. Enjoy.

I\'ve been practicing Aikido for approximately 1 year. I got this book maybe 1 or 2 months into my training and I found it frustrating because I hadn\'t yet learned most of the techniques discussed and I hadn\'t yet begun to understand the philosophies of leading, center, distance, flowing, etc. that comprises Aikido practice.

However, after a few months practicing Aikido, I found this book becoming a valuable resource. The sections of Aikido principles and philosophy became meaningful through practice, and I\'d like to think that they improved my understanding of the mental state, ki force, etc. lying underneath the mere physical techniques. They also helped me understand how Aikido might be useful outside of the dojo. As far as the sections on specific techniques, I have found them useful as well. For example, I have recently started working on yonkyo in the dojo and I have re-read the 5-10 pages on yonkyo in this book several times. The illustrations and text are both helpful to my practice.

One thing this book does well is give you a sense of the overall Aikido discipline. Depending on your instructor, you may feel focused/trapped in one technique or part of one technique at a time, struggling to fit it into a broader Aiki philosophy of martial art. This book fills those gaps; even for techniques you do not know or do not know well, after practicing for a while and reading this book, you get a better sense of how and why such things are \"aikido.\"

I got a used but aside from some minor highlighting of some text a perfect condition copy for $7.00 plus shipping\\handling. A true bargain!
This was the very first book on any martial art that I found after searching long, hard and far that provides substantial and essential (to understanding the subject matter - Aikido) information on the Art of Aikido. *I* can\'t say enough good things about this book. Buy it!

It was recommended to me by seniors at my club. I found that the book offered great technical advice using fantastic sketches and clear instruction.

However, I did think the authors took a great deal of time creating an almost scientific jargon with which to explain the concepts. This is perhaps not a problem in itself, provided the reader is like-minded. It could be a little heavy for some people starting out and who do not have such an analytical mind.

Overall it is worth buying and displaying proudly on a bookshelf.

------------------------------"flows like water, reflects like a mirror, and responds like an echo." Chaung-tse